Saying Goodbye to White Cloud

White Cloud (Mahpiya Ska in Lakota Sioux), was born on July 10, 1996 at Shirek Buffalo. Because the Shirek family wanted White Cloud to be more visible to the public, they made a special arrangement with the National Buffalo Museum for her to come live with the bison herd on the plains around the museum in 1997. In the past 20 years she has had 11 bison calves including a white bison named Dakota Miracle.

A bison can live in captivity on average 20 to 25 years. Because of White Cloud’s albinism, her life expectancy is unknown. “We are aware of her health. Summers are hard on her. As an albino, she can’t regulate her body temperature as well in the heat. Shirek Buffalo can care for her during the summer in ways we can’t in Jamestown,” says Don Williams, President of the National Buffalo Museum’s board.

White Cloud has become a special part of the Jamestown community, and we will miss her as part of the museum’s live herd. It’s estimated over 3 million visitors have stopped to see White Cloud during the 19 years she’s been in Jamestown.